Walking out of the courthouse after the judge grants my divorce, I'm still chuckling at his parting words. "I don't normally say this but congratulations. Go out and enjoy your freedom!"
It's been a long day of answering questions about 23 years of lies and cheating and abuse. My emotions are so all over the place the last thing I want to do is go home to an empty house. It's late afternoon so I decide to head to a local bar for a drink to celebrate. I walk in and go directly to the bar tender and order a frozen watermelon margarita and make my way to an empty table in the corner. Watching the people talking and dancing, a couple of guys catch my eye but I look away out of habit. Then I remember that I'm single and I can look all I want.... and maybe more.
I'm typically a very shy person but the alcohol and my newly found freedom seem to have gone to my head. I notice one very handsome younger man sitting alone at the bar, mid thirties, dark hair and a strong fit body. I decide to be bold and send over a drink, watching nervously as the bar tender places it in front of him and points at me. I can feel my face turning red as he looks over his shoulder and smiles shyly at me, quickly looking away as if he's battling his own inhibitions. After several minutes he comes to my table "Thank you for the drink." His smile and his voice sending tingles straight to my core.
"Would you like to join me?" I hold my hand out, "I'm Riley."
"Michael" he says as he sits in the chair right beside me. Taking my hand he turns it over and places a light kiss on the back, his eyes never leaving mine. I know right then that I could lose myself in this handsome stranger. Something about him resonates between my thighs making me squirm a little, feeling my panties getting damp.
"What brings you here today?" I know how clichΓ© that sounds but my nerves get the better of me and I panic.
" Business meetings mostly. I actually have a room here. I just finished with my last meeting and decided to have a drink to relax. How about you?"
"I'm actually celebrating my divorce. It didn't feel right to just go home like it was a normal day."
He over and kisses my cheek "Congratulations" holding up his drink " To fresh starts."
I touch my glass to his, smiling "To being free." Our eyes linger a little longer, goosebumps, forming on my arms.
" How long are you in town?" making small talk trying to hide my growing reaction to him.
"Tomorrow, but I'm actually not going home. I've been wanting to plan a trip to hike the Appalachian trail for years. When I got assigned to this project, it felt like fate. I leave tomorrow to start my hike to Georgia."
" Wow! That's impressive. I could never do that. I've met a lot of through hikers at my job. They're really nice people for the most part."
"Really? What do you do?"